Effective Date: October 12, 2025
1. Acceptance of Terms
Welcome to Heart to Heart Rescue ("we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our website, submitting an adoption or foster application, volunteering, making a donation, or otherwise engaging with our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Heart to Heart Rescue. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time, and your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms.
2. Adoption Services
2.1 Adoption Process
All adoptions are subject to our approval process, which includes:
- Submission of a complete and truthful adoption application
- Personal interview with our adoption coordinator
- Home visit (in-person or virtual) to assess suitability
- Veterinary reference check and landlord approval (if applicable)
- Payment of adoption fees
We reserve the right to deny any adoption application for any reason, including but not limited to concerns about the applicant's ability to provide appropriate care, housing situation, or compatibility with the animal.
2.2 Adoption Fees and Agreements
Adoption fees vary by animal and cover spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, and medical care. Fees are non-refundable once the adoption is finalized. By adopting an animal, you agree to:
- Provide proper food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and love
- Keep the animal's vaccinations and preventive care current
- Not surrender, sell, or give away the animal without notifying Heart to Heart Rescue
- Return the animal to Heart to Heart Rescue if you can no longer care for it
- Allow follow-up communication and home visits as requested
2.3 Return Policy
If an adoption does not work out, we require that the animal be returned to Heart to Heart Rescue. You may not rehome, sell, or surrender the animal to another party. We offer a 30-day adjustment period during which you may return the animal for any reason (adoption fees are non-refundable). After 30 days, we still accept returns but ask that you work with us to address any concerns first.
3. Foster Program
3.1 Foster Responsibilities
As a foster parent, you agree to:
- Provide a safe, nurturing home environment for the foster animal
- Follow all care instructions provided by Heart to Heart Rescue
- Transport the animal to veterinary appointments as scheduled
- Keep the animal separate from your own pets during initial introductions
- Notify us immediately of any health or behavioral concerns
- Not make medical decisions without our approval
- Return the animal when requested or when the foster period ends
- Allow prospective adopters to visit the animal in your home
3.2 Ownership and Liability
Foster animals remain the property of Heart to Heart Rescue at all times. We retain all decision-making authority regarding the animal's care, adoption, and placement. By fostering, you agree to:
- Release Heart to Heart Rescue from liability for any injury or damage caused by the foster animal
- Maintain homeowner's or renter's insurance that covers animal-related incidents
- Not hold Heart to Heart Rescue responsible for any losses or damages
- Indemnify and hold harmless Heart to Heart Rescue from claims arising from the foster animal
3.3 Foster-to-Adopt
If you wish to adopt your foster animal ("foster fail"), you will receive priority consideration but must still complete the standard adoption process and pay applicable adoption fees.
4. Volunteer Services
4.1 Volunteer Agreement
As a volunteer, you agree to:
- Complete all required orientation and training
- Follow all safety protocols and procedures
- Treat animals, staff, other volunteers, and visitors with respect
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
- Report any injuries, incidents, or concerns immediately
- Comply with our code of conduct and organizational policies
4.2 Volunteer Liability
Volunteering with animals involves inherent risks, including but not limited to bites, scratches, allergic reactions, and exposure to zoonotic diseases. By volunteering, you acknowledge these risks and agree to release Heart to Heart Rescue from liability for any injuries or damages that may occur during your volunteer activities.
4.3 Termination of Volunteer Status
We reserve the right to terminate your volunteer status at any time, with or without cause, including but not limited to violation of our policies, unsafe behavior, or conduct detrimental to our mission or reputation.
5. Donations
5.1 Tax Deductibility
Heart to Heart Rescue is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We will provide receipts for donations of $250 or more as required by the IRS. Please consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your contributions.
5.2 Use of Donations
Donations are used to support our mission of rescuing and rehoming animals in need. Unless you specify otherwise, donations will be allocated to our general operating fund and used for:
- Veterinary care, including spay/neuter, vaccinations, and medical treatment
- Food, supplies, and housing for animals in our care
- Facility maintenance and operational expenses
- Outreach, education, and community programs
5.3 Refund Policy
Donations are generally non-refundable. If you believe a donation was made in error, please contact us within 30 days. We will review requests on a case-by-case basis but cannot guarantee refunds.
5.4 Recurring Donations
If you set up a recurring donation, you authorize us to charge your payment method at the specified interval until you cancel. You may cancel recurring donations at any time by contacting us or through your account settings (if applicable).
6. Website Use and Content
6.1 Intellectual Property
All content on our website, including text, images, logos, videos, and graphics, is the property of Heart to Heart Rescue or our licensors and is protected by copyright and trademark laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from our content without written permission.
6.2 Acceptable Use
You agree not to use our website for any unlawful or prohibited purpose, including but not limited to:
- Transmitting viruses, malware, or harmful code
- Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems
- Harassing, threatening, or defaming others
- Violating any applicable laws or regulations
- Interfering with the proper functioning of the website
- Scraping or harvesting data without permission
6.3 User-Submitted Content
If you submit content to our website (such as adoption stories, testimonials, or photos), you grant Heart to Heart Rescue a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, modify, and display that content for promotional and operational purposes. You represent that you have the right to submit such content and that it does not violate any third-party rights.
7. Medical Disclaimer
We make every effort to accurately represent the health and temperament of our animals. However, we cannot guarantee that an animal is free from all health or behavioral issues, including undiscovered conditions that may develop after adoption. All animals are adopted "as is." We encourage adopters to have animals examined by their own veterinarian shortly after adoption.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Heart to Heart Rescue and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to:
- Your use of our services or website
- Your adoption, fostering, or interaction with any animal
- Any errors or omissions in our content or information
- Any interruption or cessation of our services
- Any loss of data or unauthorized access to your information
Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms or our services shall not exceed the amount you paid to us (if any) in the six months preceding the claim.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Heart to Heart Rescue and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from your violation of these Terms, your use of our services, or your interaction with any animal in our care.
10. Privacy
Your use of our services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.
11. Third-Party Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or integrate third-party services (such as payment processors, donation platforms, or social media). We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of these third parties. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and conditions.
12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
12.1 Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
12.2 Dispute Resolution
Any dispute arising from these Terms or our services shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, the dispute shall be submitted to mediation in Louisville, Kentucky. If mediation is unsuccessful, the dispute may be resolved through binding arbitration or litigation in the courts of Jefferson County, Kentucky.
12.3 Class Action Waiver
You agree to resolve disputes with us on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.
13. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
14. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other written agreements you have with us, constitute the entire agreement between you and Heart to Heart Rescue regarding the use of our services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings.
15. Modifications
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will post updated Terms on our website with a new effective date. Material changes will be communicated through our website or email (if we have your contact information). Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
16. Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns about these Terms of Service, please contact us:
Heart to Heart Rescue
3044 Bardstown Rd. Suite 233
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Phone: +1 (786) 492-4783
Email: h2hrescue@gmail.com
These Terms of Service were last updated on October 12, 2025. By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
